Page 143 of Deadwood
Quinn left, closing the door behind her, but I think she already knew I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes until Auria awoke. Until then, I’d stay by her side. For when she did wake, I’d be there for her till the end of my days or if she told me to go. Even then, she’d have to force me.
Almost losing her had proved I wasn’t okay with her leaving. Hell, if she wasn’t asleep right now, I’d beg where I sat on my knees, pleading that the only space safe enough for her was by my side.
Auria had broken through the walls surrounding my heart as if they were merely thin as eggshells, and now that she was in there, I wouldn’t be letting her go.
No war could keep me from her, no feud big enough to make me stay away.
And if for some reason, she didn’t feel the same, I’d find a way to let her go.
I only feared it might break me in the process.
CHAPTER 45
AURIA
No breeze caressed my bare skin through the open back of the chair as I awaited the all too familiar burn. Heidi commanded the fire magic, but it flickered in her mental hold on it, resisting. The magic knew, though, that it could not fight against its holder.
Magic was to be used, not allowed an opinion.
“This is for your own good,” my stepmother said, circling behind me. “You never learn, child.”
But I was no longer a child.
Years and years of unnecessary punishment, only doled out to cure her boredom in this grand castle. I, on the other hand, was sent to work, exhaust myself, and sleep to pass the time, while Heidi chastised to her heart’s content.
“There is nothing to learn from this,” I muttered, not caring for my brash tone. What worse could she do that she had not already done?
A fist wrapped around my hair, and my head was yanked back, but the fire that erupted on my scalp was nothing compared to the one her flame would elicit.
“You speak out of turn one more time,” she seethed, her perfect composure shattered by rage. I wasn’t scared of her, though. I never would be.
My stepmother was a monster, but I knew there were bigger battles to fear.
“That is not an admirable quality,” she continued. “It must be purged from you.”
She let go of my hair, and the fire roared to life in her palm. Heat licked at me, indicating it was bigger than she usually let it get. Typically, she was careful, precise in the size to be particular with the wounds, but today, she was reckless.
I’d invited myself to one of their meetings with an advisor from another kingdom. After a few glasses of wine, my tongue had grown slippery, making bold comments in front of the man. She’d had to hold her composure throughout the entire hour, but once it was done, she had managed to haul me up here, where a guard ripped the back of my dress open.
Many beautiful dresses were ruined by her.
The ball of fire hit my skin, right below my shoulder blade. As she held it there, the scent of burned flesh filling my nose, it felt as if my entire body was alight, not only the patch.
Usually, I’d count to ten, and it’d be done. But today, my silent numbers passed fifteen, then twenty, and I was screaming in agony.
“Please,” I begged, which I never did. Not with her. “Please, stop.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as thirty seconds, then thirty-five, passed. It was never-ending. A miracle my skin hadn’t melted clean off the bone.
Then, it was gone, and I was panting, sweat, drool, and tears cascading down the front of my body. But I didn’t feel the droplets. Not past the excruciating pain.
And that was how I sat.
For minutes.
Hours.
Tied to the chair, my arms and legs bound, as my skin sizzled.
